It feels like a time when worrying things are constantly happening but often stay hidden from view, making the work of journalists who dig for the truth more important than ever. Sadly, those kinds of reporters seem to be disappearing, particularly in mainstream news outlets. The good news is that there are still some dedicated and brave correspondents – mostly working independently – trying to bring these stories out into the open. And among the most productive of them is veteran investigator Seymour “Sy” Hersh, who has spent over 60 years uncovering major news events. His impressive career is now explored in a new documentary from directors Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus, highlighting his accomplishments, starting with his reporting on the 1968 My Lai massacre – a turning point in the Vietnam War – and continuing to his current work covering situations in places like Ukraine and Gaza. The film also details his investigations into questionable actions by people like Henry Kissinger and secretive groups such as the CIA, the abuses within Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison, and shady dealings by large companies, all through articles in various publications and a number of books. Over the years, Hersh has helped other journalists keep their stories alive even when public interest waned; for example, he provided additional coverage of the Watergate scandal, which amplified the important but initially overlooked work of Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. The documentary also looks at Hersh’s life outside his journalism, showing how he stumbled into the field almost by chance – a fortunate turn of events for those who seek truth and care about what's happening in the world. Overall, the filmmakers offer a balanced and thorough biography of Hersh, using candid interviews with him along with comments from people who know and have worked with him, plus plenty of archival footage. It’s true that at times the film could be better organized, as it occasionally jumps around without much flow – something seen in some of Poitras's previous films. But this recipient of the National Board of Review’s award for best documentary of 2025 still gives audiences a valuable and insightful look at someone who has made us aware of many things we might not have otherwise known. It's hard to imagine how much we would have missed if he hadn't been around to report on it all.

Source on TMDB